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Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio and SSM, announced that the Göktürk-1 observation satellite for the Turkish Ministry of Defense has been shipped today to Ankara AIT center to start environmental tests. The global contract, signed by Telespazio as the prime contractor and the Turkeys Ministry of National Defense comprises an Earth observation satellite equipped with a high-resolution optical sensor, a satellite integration and test center to be built in Turkey, and the complete ground segment, in charge of mission control, in-orbit operation, data acquisition and processing. Local industrial partners include TAI, Aselsan, Tübitak UEKAE, Roketsan and TR Teknoloji.

Thales Alenia Space has built the satellite and has developed the integration and test center in Turkey. Telespazio is the Prime Contractor and system integrator and, in addition is responsible of the ground segment, the satellite launch service and launch insurance procurement, the operations of the system including the Launch and Early Orbit Phase, In Orbit Test phase and the Integrated Logistics Support to the End User.

Turkish industry has been involved in the system design and development, as well as supplying some Göktürk-1 system components : TAI provided elements of the satellite payload structure, Aselsan is in charge of the ground segment components image data reception and processing, Tübitak UEKAE in charge of the telecommand and telemetry ciphering devices and TR Teknoloji of the AITC building.

Derived from the Proteus platform developed by Thales Alenia Space, the Göktürk-1 satellite includes a high-resolution optical instrument, derived from its strong heritage in this field of competency. The satellite is now assembled and integrated, it has been shipped to the new satellite integration and test center in Ankara which has been designed to be able to integrate several Satellites concurrently.

Thales Alenia Space, in the frame of the Gokturk-1 contract with Telespazio, will be the first Company in the space industry to deliver a turnkey integration and test center.

The Class 100,000 clean rooms, spanning more than 3,000 square meters, will house all the latest-generation equipment needed for satellite integration and testing. Systems include a mechanical vibration test bench (shaker), a 950 cubic meter acoustic test chamber, a thermal-vacuum chamber measuring over 350 cubic meters, a compact antenna test range and supports for the deployment of solar panels and antennas. Other resources include the system to test the satellite's physical properties (weight, center of gravity, inertia) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test systems.

Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, Undersecretary for Defence Industries (SSM),Göktürk-1 Program is a very important milestone for Turkish space and satellite road map. So far, RASAT and Göktürk-2 satellites were manufactured indigenously, launched into the space and operating perfectly. Building on these heritage coupled with the experience gained over Göktürk-1 program, Turkey now intends to manufacture new earth observation and communication satellite systems in Turkey within the state-of-the-art Assembly Integration and Test Center (AITC) facility in Ankara. AIT Center which is going to be operated under responsibility of TUSAŞ is intended to be used both for domestic and international programs.

Luigi Pasquali, CEO of Telespazio said: Thanks to its wealth of experience in the Earth observation sector, Telespazio plays a leading role in the major international programmes and, together with its partner in the Space Alliance can offer a wide range of state of art solutions to its customers. This was reflected in Gokturk-1, as prime contractor, in managing the entire system and allowing, through the involvement of Turkish Industries, the development of their expertize, thus paving the way for future cooperation in the export market

Jean Loïc Galle, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space said: Thales Alenia Space will be the first satellite manufacturer to have built a high resolution optical observation satellite to an export customer and to have delivered an AIT center abroad. This important milestone reflects both a new success of the Space Alliance offer and the capacity of Thales Alenia Space to be the natural partner to countries they want to expand their space program.

About Thales Alenia Space
Thales Alenia Space (thalesaleniaspace.com), a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%), is a key European player in space telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration and orbital infrastructures. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio form the two parent companies' Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services and solutions. Because of its unrivaled expertise in dual (civil/military) missions, constellations, flexible payloads, altimetry, meteorology and high-resolution optical and radar instruments, Thales Alenia Space is the natural partner to countries that want to expand their space program. The company posted consolidated revenues in excess of 2 billion euros in 2013, and has 7,500 employees in six countries.

About Telespazio
Telespazio (telespazio.com), a Finmeccanica/Thales 67/33 joint venture, is one of the worlds leading operators in satellite services. Its activities range from the design and development of space systems to the management of launch services, from in-orbit satellite control to Earth observation, from integrated communications, satellite navigation and localisation services to scientific programs. Telespazio plays a leading role in the reference markets harnessing technological experience acquired over the years. Since its establishment, the company has participated in major European space programs such as Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus and COSMO-SkyMed. In 2013, Telespazio generated sales of EUR 606 million while employing approximately 2,500 people worldwide.

About SSM
SSM (ssm.gov.tr) is the procurement authority under the Ministry of National Defense, TÜRKİYE. SSMs major function is putting into effect the decisions taken by the main decision making body The Defense Industry Executive Committee which makes critical decisions relating to the defense industry, including major procurement projects. SSMs functions also include reorganizing the existing Turkish Defense Industry to conform to international defense industry standards and strategic planning for the production of defense products in the private and public sector. SSM aims to build a defense industry that welcomes private entrepreneurship and allows balanced collaboration with international partners.

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